| How can acupuncture help during labour and delivery? |
| Acupuncture is effective in reducing the pain of labour and also helps strengthen the mother, giving her the stamina to continue through the birth with minimum intervention. Acupuncture can also help calm the mother between contractions, preventing exhaustion and helping prepare for the next one. |
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| How can acupuncture help after the birth? |
| As well as helping encourage the expulsion of the placenta after the baby has been delivered, acupuncture and herbal medicines can be used to treat improve milk supply and minimise low moods and tiredness. |
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| Is acupuncture safe? |
Naava Carman is a member of the British Acupuncture Council (www.acupuncture.org.uk), the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (www.rchm.co.uk) and Doula UK (www.doula.org.uk), having trained at the London College of Traditional Acupuncture and as a Doula with Dr Michel Odent. This means that she has been trained in the safe use of sterile acupuncture needles, in the choice of appropriate acupuncture points for pregnancy and labour, and in the identification and appropriate support of and for each stage of pregnancy and labour.
As a member of the British Acupuncture Council she holds full professional indemnity cover and is bound by the ethics of these three governing bodies. She has had many years of experience at attending births, and is always happy to provide references. Finally, she has had specialist postgraduate training in obstetric acupuncture provided by teachers from the Royal College of Midwives and midwife-trained acupuncturists. |
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| Evidenced-based acupuncture is practiced by The Fertility Support Company.
Please click on this link for a study done on the benefits of pre-birth acupuncture on the duration of labour and on cervical ripening. |